FlamesRising.com is pleased to present you with a guest post about writing and inspiration from New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn. At the end of the post, Yasmine is offering a chance for you to win a copy of BONE MAGIC from her Otherworld urban fantasy series. The contest ends at midnight on June 30th, so enter today! Don’t forget to check out our excerpt of BONE MAGIC, too!

When I think about what influences my writing, first I have to go back to childhood. I had a very rough childhood—there was no Brady Bunch like life for me when I was little. Besides problems with my stepfather, we lived in a house that was creepy as hell with a lot of black widows in it, and I’m convinced it was haunted. I was psychic even as a child and that sure didn’t help. So horror plays into my books, always, in muted tones and shades of gray.

I knew I wanted to write stories from the time I was three, and from that early age, I became enamored of science fiction and fantasy. First came Flyball, (Space Cat) who went to the Moon and Venus with his master. And fairy tales—how I loved fairy tales, but not the typical Cinderella stories. No, I wanted to read the Snow Queen, where Greta fearlessly chased down her sweet companion who was in the grips of the evil lady of winter.

As a child, I took off for Mars with Ray Bradbury (my all time favorite), I watched the monoliths rise into the sky with Arthur C. Clarke. In my pre-teen years, I watched for UFOs outside, looking for signs of life in the sky even as I wrestled with Heinlein and Asimov and Pohl.

I grew older, and explored the Well of Souls with Chalker, faced down the Elder Gods with Lovecraft, rode on dragon wings with Anne McCaffrey, landed on Darkover with Marion Zimmer Bradly, and trudged to Mordor with Frodo and Sam.

I wrote seven novels in my 20s and early 30s, and when they didn’t sell, I tucked them in the closet and wrote more. Then, somehow, I ended up writing eight nonfiction books—about the tarot and witchcraft and sex magic—all a part of my life. And then I caught a break and found an agent, and bingo, I was writing paranormal mysteries. But my heart still longed to be writing fantasy—urban fantasy, which had come into being during the time I wrote my earlier works.

I had an idea for a new series—The Otherworld Series, urban fantasy—and my imagination did backflips as the books exploded into popularity and I was free to write what I love.

And now, I’m writing a second urban fantasy series. The Indigo Court Series is darker, edgier, and more in line with dark fairytales than the Otherworld Series. I love writing both, but it stirs my imagination to be able to step into the shadow more. In fact, if I were to come up with a label that fits the new series—it would be more “sensual gothicka”…because there is that gothic, old world, vampire-hiding-in-the-shadow feel.

NIGHT MYST, the first book in my new series, explores the world of Cicely Waters, a witch. Cicely can control the wind and has bonded with an air elemental named Ulean. She’s in search of her aunt, who has been captured by the Indigo Court—a race of vampiric Fae led by the evil Queen Myst, the Mistress of Mayhem. In the tradition of good fairytales, Myst has also captured Cicely’s lover—Grieve, a Fae Prince, and Cicely has to win him back from a transformation he did not want to make. Filled with the magic of winter and wind, and magical creatures and vampires and vampiric Fae, and dark shadows that hide fierce beasts, I’m hoping that Night Myst will capture my readers just as surely as Myst has captured Heather and Grieve.

As a bonus, leave me a comment and three of you will each receive a copy of Bone Magic, book 7 in my Otherworld Series, from my publisher.

Bright Blessings, and watch out for the shadows—they do indeed at times contain monsters.

Yasmine Galenorn

About Yasmine Galenorn: New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn writes urban fantasy for Berkley: both the bestselling Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon Series for Berkley and the upcoming Indigo Court urban fantasy series. In the past, she wrote mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, and nonfiction metaphysical books. Her books have hit the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists
numerous times.

Yasmine has been in the Craft for over 30 years, is a shamanic witch, and describes her life as a blend of teacups and tattoos. She lives in Bellevue WA with her husband Samwise and their cats. Yasmine can be reached via her website at www.galenorn.com.

Contest Rules for BONE MAGIC Give-a-way

If you are curious about the book in this give-a-way, be sure to read a preview of BONE MAGIC here on FlamesRising.com. Without further delay, here are the contest rules.

1. One Entry Per Person – We ask that you post one entry per person so that all urban fantasy fans have a fair shot at wining their copy of BONE MAGIC.
2. Territory Restriction – At the publisher’s request, only entrants who reside in the United States or Canada will be eligible for this contest.
3. Valid Email Address Required – When you post your comment, there’s a field to enter your email address. In order for the publisher to notify the winners, we ask that you please include a valid email address. This email address will not be posted publicly, and neither us, nor the publisher, will use your email address for any other reason other than to notify you if you’ve won.
4. Valid Postal Address Required – Once you are notified, you will need to provide the publisher with a valid mailing address in the U.S. or Canada so they can mail you your prize.
5. Contest Entries Must Be Received By – midnight on June 30th, 2010 in order to be eligible.

Contest winners will be notified via email approximately one week after the contest ends. Good luck!

I am always looking for “new” authors and series to read. I love reading, and when I find an engaging book / author, I usually read through their entire published works in a short period of time :-). I’m looking forward to reading work from a “new” (for me anyway) author.

I love Yasmine’s books! The Otherworld series is the best. Yasmine has a great gift of storytelling and it is wonderful that she shares it with us! Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your fantasy world!

11 Tales of Ghostly Horror

Monthly Newsletter Sign Up

The Devil’s Night WoD SAS

Become a Fan on Facebook!

Reviews Wanted!

The new Review Guidelines have been posted on the Flames Rising website. We are currently seeking a few good reviewers to help us expand our collection of horror and dark fantasy reviews. RPGs, fiction, movies, video games and more are all welcome on the site...

What do you get out of it?

Beyond helping out fellow Flames Rising readers by letting them know what you think of these products, we're giving away some pretty cool stuff. Regular Reviewers can earn free products to review, which is their to keep after the review is submitted to the site.

Note: We are especially looking for folks interested in reviewing eBooks (both Fiction & Comics). We have lots of great titles in digital format and even get advance copies sometimes.

Use the Contact Page to submit reviews or let us know if you have any questions.